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PrideFest returning for 44th year

Coming Attractions

Although it has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, Denver’s PrideFest can trace its roots all the way back to 1975. And this year’s event is going to be the biggest yet.

“We’re going to have more than 200 exhibitors and three stages-worth of entertainment,” said Rex Fuller, vice president of communications and corporate giving with The GLBT Community Center of Colorado, which has been organizing the festival for 28 years. “At this free festival we have a lot going on, including areas for families, youth and seniors.”

Denver PrideFest, the region’s largest celebration of LGBT Pride, returns to Civic Center, 101 W. 14th Ave., on Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17. Events begin on the 16th at 9:30 a.m. and continue until 11 p.m., and on the 17th, they start at 9 a.m. and finish and 6 p.m.

The event expects more than 350,000 people stopping by to participate in a range of activities, including the Coors Light PrideFest Parade, which is the centerpiece of PrideFest. This year’s parade will include more than 200 entries that celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ community and its supporters.

“We wanted to focus on cross-cultural programming, and we’re bringing all kinds of entertainment to our stages,” Fuller said. “It allows us to showcase that the LGBTQ community includes people from all walks of life.”

Other activities going on during the festival include dance music legend Crystal Waters performing, Kameron Michaels from “Ru Paul’s Drag Race,” DJ Barry Harris, an installation by Lonnie Hanzon, the Pride 5K and Denver Pride Rally for Equality.

“This year’s theme is ‘Say It Loud, Say It Proud,’” Fuller added. “We want everyone in our community to remain visible and speaking about their rights.”

Proceeds from Denver PrideFest support the GLBT Community Center of Colorado.

Fred Rogers, better known as Mr. Rogers of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” played a critical role in the upbringing of generations of children during his time on PBS. Now one of the most anticipated films of the year is “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” a documentary all about the ever-popular children’s show host.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at Sloan’s Lake, 4255 W. Colfax Ave., and Littleton, 7301 S. Santa Fe Drive, are hosting benefit screenings of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” Sloan’s Lake’s screening is on June 15 and Littleton is on June 22.

James Alex is a rare kind of person in 2018 — a true believer in the cathartic, healing and transcendent power of rock. His band, Beach Slang, brings all the raucous fun and shout-along worthy choruses that made early rock and punk so much fun in the first place.

But now James is turning the volume down a little with Quiet Slang, the acoustic version of Beach Slang. It’s a testament to the depth of James’ tunes that they take on a whole other level when played acoustically.

Quiet Slang will be making a stop at the Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St. in Denver, at 8 p.m. on Monday, June 18. For tickets, visit www.globehall.com.

Butterfly Pavilion marks Pollinator Week

It seems like every day or month of the year is in honor of something — everything from National Cheese Day to National Old Maids Day (both real).

For fans of the animals that keep the world green and growing, Westminster’s Butterfly Pavilion is marking June 18 through 24 as its annual Pollinator Week.

This pollinator celebration is included with general admission and features animal and plant encounters, a milkweed seed giveaway, guided garden explorations, crafts, games, beeswax candle-making and a new sommelier-led honey tasting and food pairing for those 21 and older.

In addition, there will be free honey tastings of Local Hive by Rice’s Honey from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in all 19 Colorado Sam’s Club locations, with the Thornton location as the main hub of activity.

Growing up I always wanted to be a paleontologist and try my hand at finding dinosaur bones. I wasn’t the only child who held similar hopes and, sadly, most of us didn’t go on to realize those dreams.

But the Denver Museum of Nature & Science has quite the opportunity for us who still have an interest in getting our hands dirty. The public is invited to be a part of an excavation project at the Magic Mountain archaeological site, located near Apex Park just outside of Golden.

Free public tours and excavation opportunities with professional archaeologists will be offered June 20 through 27 and July 5 through 13.

The research team is working to better understand mobility patterns, seasonal use and site activities during the Early Ceramic Period (200-1000 CE).

Reservations for the free tours and excavation opportunities at Magic Mountain are available first come, first served at dmns.org/toursatmagicmountain.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. A community editor with Colorado Community Media, he can be reached creader@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

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